A cure for motor neurone disease – which killed Professor Stephen Hawking – has moved one step closer, scientists believe.

The cruel condition causes signals from motor neurone nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to fail.

Motor neurones control crucial muscle activity and if they are damaged and break down some patients eventually find it impossible to walk or even speak. 

Now researchers have found that another type of brain cell – thought to be harmless – could play a role in the disease, which is also known as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).  

Tests of cells from skin samples of patients with MND, also known as ALS, showed glial cells can damage motor neurones.

University of St Andrews researchers said glial cells normally support neurones in the brain and spinal cord.